Number Within Parentheses Syndrome (1)

There must be a more technical term for this, but my internet searching has come up empty. I describe what I call Number Within Parentheses (NWP) Syndrome below:

I find it is it incredibly fulfilling when I see a NWP. Example: (1) or (4) or (17)

Perhaps one could call it obsessive compulsive disorder, but I believe more is involved with NWP Syndrome. The reason behind it is email, blogrolls, or any service that alerts you to new items by specifying how many there are by writing the NWP. e.g.



This obsession is enhanced when the NWP and preceding word are bolded. e.g.





Elaborating, typically the word "Inbox" sits alone for periods of time, but when it fills, and I see "Inbox (1)" I get a rush of excitement. No matter where my eyes are on the screen, I can sense the change, and I instantly feel happy. I can't resist checking right away, even just to see what the subject line is. Sometimes I will let the email message sit unopen though, just to see the NWP next to the word "Inbox". I feel satisfied knowing someone has contacted me.

I realized this was more than just simple excitement, and more like an obsession, when I noticed I could reproduce similar feelings, although to a lesser extent, when I emailed myself message. No, I have never done this just to produce such a stimulation, but the times I have emailed myself a reminder or a document, and I see the Inbox go bold with a NWP next to it, I get a quick surge of happiness, before my conscious mind steps in and reminds my subconscious that it is my own message.

This applies to most things that have an NWP. Google of course uses an NWP for many of their products. It does not apply to all things though, such as renaming several files in Windows Exploreer, and they become sequentially numbered with an NWP. e.g. School Photo, School Photo (1), School Photo (2), School Photo (3)